Packaging machine



Nov. 18, 1969 A, JENSEN E1- AL 3,478,488

PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1967 N SE RS m 0N E JN E A MAM S WANHN 0 Y Nov. 18, 1969 Filed March 27, 1967 H. A. JENSEN ETAL 3,478,488

PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I *0 Q) i Fifi-4 I F 11 l s k x 4 kIr LI INVENTORS HANS A. JENSEN ATT 'YS.

NOV. 18, 1969 A, JENSEN ET AL 3,478,488

PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 27, 1967 \\ns n6.

w way smm w m wER T NJE A E A M m- Ami Yl M. A I w w B Nov. 18, 1969 H,A, JENSEN ET AL 3,478,488

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 2.7, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTORS HANS A. JENSEN MYRON J. M DLER BY ATT'Y Nov. 18, 1969 H. A. JENSEN E AL3,478,438

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1967 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VE N TORSHANS A. JENSEN ATT'YS.

NOV. 18, 1969 JENSEN ET AL 3,478,488

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 nv VEN TORS vHANS A. JENSEN YRON J.M R ER BYM M HTT'YS.

United States Patent 3,478,488 PACKAGING MACHINE Hans A. Jensen andMyron J. Merdler, Madison, Wis., assignors to Oscar Mayer & Co., Inc.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No.626,297 Int. Cl. B65]: 31/02, 51/14 US. Cl. 53-112 15 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for vacuumizing and pressure sealing anassembly of package elements which is characterized by verticallyaligned, relatively movable lower and upper vacuum chamber and sealingdie members between which the package elements are clamped andassociated mechanism for evacuating a plurality of compartments in thelower member when a series of connected product-receiving package formsare seated therein and the die members are closed, and for sealingportions of the package forms which are trapped between the dies whilepressure is applied to opposite faces of the product enclosing portionsso as to compress the product and fill the product accommodating spacewithin the packages.

This invention relates to packaging and is concerned with improvementsin an apparatus for vacuumizing and pressure sealing, while under vacuumand in a compressed state, a plurality of connected package assembliesof the type Which are characterized by a preformed, cup-shaped body ofsemi-rigid plastic which encompasses the product and a rigid orsemi-rigid panel-like closure member forming the bottom of the packageand supporting the product therein, with the body and closure membershaving telescoping portions and marginal flange portions which aresuperimposed and heat sealed.

A package which is especially designed for marketing sliced luncheonmeat and similar products has been developed which comprises a preformedtray or cup-shaped, transparent plastic container body for encompassinga predetermined quantity of the product in snug relation and a closuremember of rigid or semi-rigid plastic having a product supporting panelor raised platform like portion which telescopes within the containerbody and a flange surrounding the product supporting panel which isadapted to be sealed to an overlying flange on the margins of thecontainer body with the package being vacuumized and heat sealed whilepressure is applied on the top and bottom faces so as to compress theproduct and substantially fill the space within the package and providea unitary package assembly. In producing this type package it has beenfound convenient to shape a plurality of the package elements inconnected relation from plastic sheet materials, fill the container bodyforming elements with the desired amount of product, for example,one-half pound or a pound of sliced luncheon meat in each of the bodyforming cavities, assemble the cover forming elements therewith andsubject the assembly to a vacuum while applying pressure to the oppositefaces of the assembly and while heat and pressure sealing the flangeforming portions surrounding each of the product filled cavities,thereby to produce a plurality of the packages in connected relation.The sealed assembly is thereafter trimmed or cut apart so as to providethe separate individual packages. The general object of the presentinvention is to provide an apparatus of a semi-automatic nature whichwill accept the aforesaid package assemblies and accomplish the closingand sealing operations while the assemblies are vacuumized and pressureis applied to the oppositely disposed top and bottom faces of each ofthe packages in the assemblies.

Patented Nov. 18, 1969 It is a more specific object of the invention toprovide an apparatus for closing and sealing a plurality of connectedpackage units which are initially formed by shaping sheet material so asto provide a series of connected productreceiving cavities in one sheetand a series of connected closure panels in another sheet havingportions which telescope within the cavities wherein the apparatuscomprises a compartment vacuum chamber or die member and a cooperatingpressure die member mounted for relative movement toward and from eachother in a vertical path with cam means for opening and closing the diesupon the package assembly and associated mechanism for applying vacuumto the package units before they are sealed and for heat sealing aroundthe margins of each package unit while pressure is applied to the topand bottom faces thereof so as to compress the product and cause thesame to conform to the interior of and to fill the space within eachpackage unit.

It is a further object to provide an apparatus of the type describedwhich is semi-automatic and requires only that the package assemblies beplaced on a loading plate which is thereafter operative to deposit theassemblies in the proper relation between the closing and sealing diesand to return the same when closed and sealed to a position for readyremoval from the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the apparatus for closing and sealing multi-unitpackage assemblies which is shown by way of illustration in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a machine which incorporates therein theprincipal features of the invention, with portions thereof being brokenaway;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the front or loading and discharge end ofthe machine, with portions thereof being broken away; 1

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,to a larger scale and with the dies being in the open position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, to anenlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a partial section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1, to anenlarged scale; 7

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1, toan enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross section taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 6, toa larger scale and with the dies in the closed position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 2, toan enlarged scale;

FIGURE 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE. 1, to anenlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view showing, in the invertedposition in which they are placed in the machine, package elements whichare adapted to be closed and sealed in the machine; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing a portion of the closed andsealed package assembly, the assembly being shown with the packages inthe upright position.

Referring first to FIGURES 10 and 11 of the drawings, the packageelements, which are adapted to be closed and sealed by the machine whichis illustrated, comprises a sheet 10 of transparent plastic of asemirigid character which is preformed to provide a series of connectedcontainer bodies constituting product accommodating cavities 11 in eachof which a quantity of a product 12 is adapted to be placed with thesheet 10 being inverted so that the cavities 11 are open side up, and acomplementary closure sheet 13 formed with a series of depressed panels14 which are spaced according to the spacing of the cavities 11 and areadapted to telescope within the open sides of the cavities 11 when thesheet 13 is placed on the sheet and pressure is applied to the oppositefaces thereof. When the cavities 11 are filled with the desired amountof the product 12 and the sheet 13 is placed thereon the assembly ispositioned in the machine for vacuumizing, compressing and sealingoperations so as to produce the multi-unit package assembly shown inFIGURE 11.

The machine comprises an upright supporting frame having a horizontallydisposed, generally rectangular main frame portion 20 (FIGURES 1 and 2)supported at the front end by pedestal forming side frame members 21 andat the rear end by depending legs 22. The side frame members 21 supportat the front end of the machine a lower die or vacuum chamber assembly24 and a vertically aligned upper die or pressure applying and heatsealing assembly 25. The upper die assembly 25 is in a fixed positionwhile the lower die assembly 24 is mounted for vertical movement andcontrolled by a pair of cam plates 26 and 26' mounted for horizontalsliding movement on the main frame 20. A loading and discharge plateassembly 27 is mounted for movement in a path extending between the twodie assemblies 24 and 25 on a horizontal- 1y disposed frame 28 which issupported and guided on the main support frame 20 for horizontalreciprocation.

The lowermost vacuum chamber or die assembly 24 comprises an upwardlyopening, tray-like member 30 (FIGURES 3 to 7) in which there are mounteda series of inserts 31 each forming an upwardly opening, pack agereceiving compartment or cavity 32 which is of a size to receive thecontainer body or cavity forming portions 11 of the preformed sheet 10.In the form illustrated the container bodies are of cylindrical shape.Each insert 31 is provided on its uppermost face with a gasket 33 ofresilient seal forming material surrounding the edge of the compartment32. A pressure applying plate 34 is mounted for movement in eachcompartment 32 on a stem 35 which is slidable in a sleeve 36 seated inan air sealed bore 37 which extends through the bottom of the die member30 in the center of each compartment 32. The stem 35 also extendsthrough a bore in a supporting cross plate 38 on which the member 30 ismounted and into a socket forming bore 40 in a member 41 upstanding froma fixed cross plate or bar 42. A compression spring 43 is seated in thebore 40 and urges the stem 35 in an upward direction. A largercompression spring 44 is seated at its lower end on a shoulder 45 ofmember 41 and at its upper end on a shouldered washer 46 beneath theplate 38. The spring 44 exerts a downward force on the stem 35 andoperates to restrain the stem 35 and plate 34 against following theentire die assembly 24 in the upward movement thereof. The movement ofthe stem 35 relative to member 41 is limited by a pin 47 operating in aslot 47' in the wall of member 41. The cross bars 42 (FIGURES 1-3 and 7)are slotted at 48 beneath each member 41 so as to permit the members 41to be lifted above the bars 42 by stop forming brackets 49 mounted onthe depending plate 50 of the die assembly 24. As the stops 49 moveupwardly with the assembly 24 they pass through slots 48 in the bars 42and lift the members 41 off of bars 42. The contact of stops 49 with themembers 41 determines the full travel of the stems 35 and the plates 34.The position of the stems 35 and plates 34 relative to the cavities 32is not affected by any further upward movement of the stops 49.

The plate 38 on which the die assembly 24 is carried forms the top of aT-shaped member having a depending flange or web 50, Track formingmembers 51 and 51 are mounted at opposite ends of the depending web 50which provide vertically extending lower guideways 52 and 52 forreceiving guide rollers 53 and 53' which are journaled in end portionsof side frame members 54 and 54', the latter being connected to theinside faces of the frame members 21. Wear plates 55 and 55' are mountedon the guide rollers 53 and 53' against which the outermost verticaledges of track members 51 and 51' bear so as to hold the assembly in avertical path with substantially no endwise movement. Triangular-shapedend plates 56 and 56' are upstanding on the ends of the cross plate 38and carry guide rollers 57 and 57' at the apex forming tops thereofwhich are received in vertical guideways 58' and 58' provided by trackforming members 60 and 60' mounted on the frame members 21. Theguideways 58 and 58' are in vertical alignment with the guideways 52 and52' so as to insure proper vertical movement of the assembly 24.

The end plates 56 and 56' carry at the center of their base portion camrollers 61 and 61 (FIGURES 1-3) which are operative in cam tracks 62 and62 in the oppositely disposed faces of vertically disposed cam plates 26and 26'. The cam plates 26 and 26' extend upwardly of elongate slidemembers 64 and 64' which are mounted for horizontal reciprocation inpairs of track formations 66, 67 and 66', 67' which are spacedlongitudinally of the horizontal frame 20 and supported on the top facesof side frame members 54 and 54'. Each track formation has an upwardlyopening, track forming recess 68 (FIGURE 3) which slidingly receives theslide member 64 or 64' and retaining gibs 70 and 70' which are receivedin longitudinally extending slots 71 and 71' in the side faces of theslide members 64 and 64'. The slide members 64 and 64' are reciprocatedby operation of the hydraulic cylinder 75 (FIGURE 1) which is mounted ona cross frame channel member 76 at the rear end of the frame 20. Thecylinder 75 extends toward the front of the machine with the piston 77connected by clevis 78 and pin 79 (FIG- URES l and 4) to a cross platemember 80 connecting the slide members 64 and 64. Spring backed bumpers81 are mounted on angle brackets 82 on the side frame members 54 and 54'to act as a cushion stop for the slide members 64 and 64. A cam plate 83is suspended at its forward end from the clevis 78 by a dependingbracket 84 and rides in a guide bracket 85 on the bottom of cylinder 75for operating a valve assembly 86 which is mounted at the inner end ofthe cylinder 75 and which controls the flow of fluid to the cylinder 75and thus varies the movement of piston 77. The piston movement is variedso that the package assembly is placed in the cavities more gently. Amore gradual accelerated start of travel is obtained and a more gradualdeaccelerated end of travel.

The upper die or chamber assembly 25 (FIGURES 3, 6, 7 and 8) comprises adownwardly opening, traylike base member 90 which is secured on thebottom face of the lawer flange 91 of a cross I beam 92 forming the topframe member at the front of the machine and being connected at oppositeends to the vertical frame members 21. The downwardly facing recess 93in the base member 90 houses a diaphragm 94, a piston and guide plateassembly and a heat and pressure platen 96. The diaphragm 94 is in thebottom of the recess 93 and is clamped therein by the guide plate 95which is secured to the base member 90 by bolts 97. The guide plate 95is recessed at 98 to slidingly receive, for limited downward movement, aseries of piston members 99. The pistons 99 are mounted as shown inFIGURE 3 with interengaging shoulders 100 permitting a limited movementin the guide recesses 98. The lower faces of the piston members 99 bearagainst the upper face of the platen 96. The platen 96 is suspended fromthe guide plate 95 by a plurality of shouldered screws 101 which havetheir shank ends threaded into suitable bores in the guide plate 95 andextend downward through bores 102 in the platen 96 with the headportions movable in bottom portions of the bores which are of largerdiameter and in which a compression spring 103-is trapped so as tonormally hold the platen 96 in retracted or elevated position as shownin FIGURE 3. Pads 104 are mounted on the lower face of the platen 96which are in alignment with the recesses 32 in the lower die assembly24. The platen 96 is provided with a series of tubular passageways 105which are connected at one end of the platen to the lower ends ofvertically disposed conduits 106 and 106 (FIGURE 8), each of whichextends upwardly through a spring pressed seal assembly indicated at 107so as to permit the conduits 106 and 106 to move vertically with themovement of the platens 96. The conduits 106 and 106' extend throughapertures in the bottom flange 91 of the I beam 92 and carry collars 108and compression springs 109. The conduits 106 and 106 are connected witha suitable steam supply which is circulated through the platen 96 toheat the same. An opening 111 (FIGURE 7) in the side wall of the basemember 90 is connected by suitable conduit to a vacuum line indicated at112 and controlled by valves 113 and 114. Passageways indicated at 115and 116 in member 90 (FIGURES 3, 6 and 7) are connected by means ofsuitable conduits 117 and control valve 118 to an air pressure line andan exhaust line so that pressure may be applied through the diaphragm 94to the pistons 99 to force the heated platen 96 downwardly against theaction of the springs 103 and into pressure applying engagement with thepackage closure panels when the lower die assembly 24 is raised intoengagement with the upper die assembly 25 and vacuum has been applied tothe interior of the dies to exhaust the air from the package units.

The loading and unloading apparatus 27 which is provided for positioningthe package assembly between the upper and lower die members 25 and 24so that the package body forming elements 11 are seated in the recesses32 in the lower die assembly 24 and for removing the sealed assemblyafter the sealing operation and separation of the die assemblies 24 and25 is shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 4 and 7. The apparatus 27 comprises ahorizontally disposed loading plate 120 with recesses 121 cut in theforward margin to accommodate the container body elements 11 when thepackage assembly is placed thereon. The fork-like loading plate 120 issecured at its rearward margins to longitudinally extending, parallelbars 122 constituting part of a horizontally disposed top frame 125. Theframe 125 includes parallel, transversely extending rod or bar members126 and 127 which are rotatably mounted in bushings 128 spaced axiallyof the cross bars 126 and 127 and mounted in the longitudinal bars 122.The cross bars 126 and 127 are pivotally connected at their ends withthe cross bars 130 and 131 of a lower frame 136 by means of shortparallel link bars 137. The bottom frame 136 is mounted for horizontalsliding movement between vertically extending, parallel side plates 138and 138' (FIGURE 9) which are upstanding from the side frame bars 54 and54'. The cross bars 130 and 131 are connected at their opposite ends toside rail members 140 and 140' which carry on their upper faceslongitudinally extending gib plates 141 and 141', the outer margins ofwhich overhang the outer face of the bars 140 and 140 and are receivedin sliding relation in longitudinal guideway 142 and 142' formed betweenlongitudinally extending bars 143, 144 and 143',

144 which are secured on the oppositely disposed inside faces of thevertical frame plates 138 and 138. Longitudinal guide rails 145 and 145are spaced above the guide rails 144 and 144' so as to form a cam track146 and 146' for receiving cam rollers 147 and 147 on the extended endsof the front cross bar 126 of the top frame 125. Each of the cam tracks146 and 146' has a forward portion 148, 148' which is elevated so as toraise the loading plate 120 as it is moved forwardly to extend the samefor receiving the package assembly and to lower the plate 120 as it ismoved rearwardly of the machine to deposit the package assembly on theloWer die assembly 24. The side rails 140 and 140' are provided withrack teeth 150 and 150' on their bottom faces which engage with gears151 and 151' mounted on a cross shaft 152 which is journaled in bearings153 and 153' supported on the vertical plates 138 and 138'. The shaft152 extends through the plates 138 and 138' and carries pinions 154 and154 which engage with racks 155 and 155' mounted on the tops of theslide members 64 and 64' which carry the camplates for raising andlowering the lower die assembly 24.

The operation of the apparatus is controlled by suit able electriccircuitry which includes solenoid controlled electronic timers andsolenoid operated air valves. Two starting switches 160 and 161 arearranged at the front of the machine and connected into the controlcircuit so that these two switches must both be held simultaneously bythe operator until the lower die assembly 24 is raised into closedrelation with the upper die assembly 25. The switches are spaced so thatboth hands are required for operation so as to safeguard the operator.Closing of the two switches 160 and 161 operates solenoid air valveindicated at 162 which connects the air supply line to the hydrauliccylinder 75 and moves the cam plates 26 and 26' forwardly so as to raisethe lower die assembly 24. The movement of the slide members 64 and 64'which carry the cam plates 26 and 26' actuates the loading assembly 27through the rack and pinion connection and the cross shaft 152. Theloading plate 120 moves back and down so as to deposit the packageassembly on the lower die assembly 24 as the latter moves upwardly.Switch 163 which is mounted on the side plate 138 is operated by camplate 164 on the slide member 64 as the latter is moved forward to closethe lower die assembly 24 on the upper die assembly 25. The switch 163controls the operation of a variable electronic timer which operates andtimes solenoid valves 113 and 114 controlling the vacuum line 112 forevacuating the interior of the die assemblies 24 and 25 after they areclosed on each other and sealed. The valve 113 is opened and 114 isclosed and timed by the variable electronic timer and at the sameinstant the timer for controlling the vacuum line is started, a secondvariable electronic timer is also started, the only function of which isto time the delay of starting a third variable electronic timer, withthe time interval corresponding to the time the interior of the unsealedpackages are exposed to vacuum. The third timer starts and times thecycle of the steam heated pressure platen 96 by opening the solenoidoperated air valve 118 (FIGURE 6) which allows compressed air to enterthe top die 25 through passageways and 116 so as to apply pressure tothe diaphragm 94. The force of the compressed air is transmitted by thethree pistons 99 to the steam heated pressure platen 96 and the lattermoves down onto the package components. As the pressure is applied, theheat activates an adhesive which seals the packages. Upon completion ofthe time of the vacuum timer, the vacuum is shut off and the area isopened to atmosphere. Upon completion of the time of the pressure timer,the area above the diaphragm 94 is changed from pressure to vacuum whichhelps return the platen and also prevents prematurely lowering platen96. The completion of the time of the pressure timer also starts thereverse motion of the hydraulic piston 75 which lowers the die assembly24 and simultaneously moves the loading plate forward and upward so asto remove the sheet of sealed packages and return the same to loadingposition. This completes the cycle of operation of the machine.

In operating the machine a package assembly is placed on the fork-likeloading plate 120 and the two starting switches and 161 are held closedwhile the loading plate 120 moves back and down to deposit the packageassembly in the lower die assembly with the container body memberspositioned in the cavities 32 and depressing the pressure plates 34against the force of the springs 43. The lower die assembly 24 issimultaneously moved upwardly by cam plates 26 and 26' and closes on theupper die assembly 25 as the loading plate moves back out of the way.The vacuum line 112 is opened by operation of valves 113 and 114 so asto exhaust the air in the chamber formed by the closed dies. After apredetermined time interval the valve 118 is opened and air pressure isapplied to the diaphragm 94 which lowers the heated pressure platen 96to compress the packages and heat seal the superimposed flanges of thecontainer body and closure members. The valves 113 and 114 are operatedto relieve the vacuum and the die assemblies are separated by backwardmovement of the cam plates 26 and 26. The loading plate 120 movesforward and up to strip the sealed package assembly from the lower dieassembly and returns the same to loading position for removal from themachine.

While particular materials and specific details of construction arereferred to in describing the form of the machine illustrated, it willbe understood that other materials and equivalent structural details maybe resorted to Within the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a preformed semirigid tray-like container body having aperipheral flange portion extending outwardly of the bottom of the bodyand a semi-rigid closure panel with a raised product supporting platformadapted to be telescoped within the bottom of the container body and aperipheral flange adapted to be sealed in face engagement with theoverlying flange portion of the container body, said machine comprisingan upright supporting frame, a lower die assembly mounted for verticalmovement on said frame and having an upwardly opening recess in which acontainer body is adapted to be positioned in inverted relation with aquantity of a product in said body and with a closure panel, also ininverted relation, positioned thereon, an upper die assembly supportedon said frame and aligned vertically with said lower die assembly, meansfor raising said lower die assembly into sealing engagement with saidupper die assembly, means for connecting a vacuum line to said dieassemblies so as to withdraw air from the die assemblies and the packageelements enclosed between the die assemblies, said upper die assemblyhaving a movable pressure applying platen therein with marginal portionsthereof overlying marginal portions of the lower die assembly aroundsaid upwardly opening recess and means to connect said upper dieassembly to an air pressure supply line so as to apply sufficientpressure to said platen to move the same into pressure applyingengagement with said closure panel thereby to compress the productbetween the top of the container body and the platform portion of theclosure panel so that the product fills the space within the packagewhile applying sealing pressure to the flange of the container body andthe underlying flange of the closure panel trapped between the marginalportions of said lower die assembly and said pressure applying platen.

2. A machine as recited in claim 1, and said lower.

die assembly having a pressure applying plate movably mounted thereinfor co-operation with said platen to compress the product and theassociated container body and closure panel portions.

3. A machine as recited in claim 2, and said pressure applying platehaving a resilient supporting means.

4. A machine as recited in claim 2, and said pressure applying platehaving a depending stem and spring means operatively connected to saidstem and said die assembly so as to resiliently urge said plate intopressure applying engagement with the lowermost face of the containerbody.

5. A machine as recited in claim 1, and said upper die assembly having aguide member and piston means engaging said platen for moving the plateninto engagement with the closure panel of the package assembly.

6. A machine as recited in claim 1, and said pressure applying platenbeing mounted in said upper die assembly on depending supports havingresilient means for resisting downward movement of said platen.

7. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a preformed semi-rigid tray-like container body havinga peripheral flange portion extending outwardly of the bottom of thebody and a semi-rigid closure panel with a raised product supportingplatform adapted to be telescoped within the bottom of the containerbody and a peripheral flange adapted to be sealed in face engagementwith the overlying flange portion of the container body, said machinecomprising an upright supporting frame, a lower die assembly mounted forvertical movement on said frame and having an upwardly opening recess inwhich a container body is adapted to be positioned in inverted relationwith a quantity of a product in said body and with a closure panel, alsoin inverted relation, positioned thereon, an upper die assemblysupported on said frame and aligned vertically with said lower dieassembly, means for raising said lower die assembly into sealingengagement with said upper die assembly, means for connecting said dieassemblies to a vacuum line so as to withdraw air from the packageelements enclosed between the die assemblies, said upper die assemblyhaving a movable pressure applying platen therein and means to connectsaid upper die assembly to an air pressure supply line so as to movesaid platen into pressure applying engagement with said closure panelthereby to compress the product between the top of the container bodyand the platform portion of the closure panel so that the product fillsthe space within the package while sealing the flange of the containerbody to the flange of the closure Panel, and a diaphragm in said upperdie assembly which is interposed between said platen and the connectionwith the air pressure supply line so as to equalize the pressure exertedon said platen.

8. A machine as recited in claim 1, and means incorporated in saidplaten for heating said platen so as to heat seal the face engagingflanges on the body portion and the closure panel of the packageassembly.

9. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a semi-rigid sheet material which is preformed toprovide one or more traylike container bodies each having a peripheralflange portion extending about an open side which constitutes the bottomthereof and a semi-rigid sheet of similar material which is preformed toprovide a corresponding number of bottom closure panels each having araised product supporting portion adapted to be telescoped within theopen side of a container body and a peripheral flange portion adapted tobe sealed in face engagement with the flange portions of the associatedcontainer body, said machine comprising a supporting frame, a lower dieassembly mounted on said frame and having an upwardly opening recess inwhich a container body is adapted to be positioned in inverted relationwith a quantity of a product in said body and with a closure panelportion assembled in inverted relation thereon, an upper die assemblysupported on said frame and aligned vertically with said lower dieassembly, means for moving said die assemblies into closed position withsaid package assembly enclosed between the same and for separating saiddie assemblies to free the package assembly, means for connecting saiddie assemblies to a vacuum line so as to withdraw air from the packageassembly, said die assemblies having means to apply pressure to theuppermost and lowermost faces of the package assembly enclosed thereinwhereby to compress the product so that it fills the space within thepackage and means for sealing the package flanges which are in faceengagement with each other, and means associated with said dieassemblies for supporting a package assembly while moving it intoposition for deposit in the lower die assembly as said die assembliesare closed upon each other and for removing the sealed package assemblyfrom said lower die assembly as said die assemblies are separated.

10. A machine as recited in claim 9, and said means for supporting andmoving said package assembly comprising a fork-like supporting plate, acarriage forming frame mounted for reciprocable movement on saidsupporting frame.

11. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a semi-rigid sheet material which is preformed toprovide one or more traylike container bodies each having a peripheralflange portion extending about an open side which constitutes the bottomthereof and a semi-rigid sheet of similar material which is preformed toprovide a corresponding number of bottom closure panels each having araised product supporting portion adapted to be telescoped within theopen side of a container body and a peripheral flange portion adapted tobe sealed in face engagement with the flange portions of the associatedcontainer body, said machine comprising a supporting frame, a lower dieassembly mounted on said frame and having an upwardly opening recess inwhich a container body is adapted to be positioned in inverted relationwith a quantity of a product in said body and with a closure panelportion assembled in inverted relation thereon, an upper die assemblysupported on said frame and aligned vertically with said lower dieassembly, means for moving said die assemblies into closed position withsaid package assembly enclosed between the same and for separating saiddie assemblies to free the package assembly, means for connecting saiddie assemblies to a vacuum line so as to withdraw air from the packageassembly, said die assemblies having means to apply pressure to theuppermost and lowermost faces of the package assembly enclosed thereinwhereby to compress the product so that it fills the space within thepackage and means for sealing the package flanges which are in faceengagement with each other and said means for moving said die assembliescomprising a traveling carriage and co-operating cam means on saidcarriage and on one of said die assemblies.

12. A machine as recited in claim 11, and means associated with said dieassemblies for moving a package assembly into position for deposit inthe lower die assemby and for removal of the sealed package assemblytherefrom, which means is operated by means responsive to movement ofsaid traveling carriage.

13. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a semi-rigid sheet material which is preformed toprovide one or more tray-like container bodies each having a marginalflange portion extending about an open side which constitutes the bottomthereof and a semi-rigid sheet of similar material which is preformed toprovide a corresponding number of bottom closure panels each having aproduct supporting portion adapted to close the open side of a containerbody and a marginal flange portion adapted to be sealed in faceengagement with the flange portions of the associated container body,said machine comprising a supporting frame, a lower die assembly mountedon said frame and having an upwardly opening recess in which a containerbody is adapted to be positioned in inverted relation with a quantity ofa product in said body and with a closure panel assembled in invertedrelation thereon, an upper die assembly supported on said frame andaligned vertically with said lower die assembly means for moving saiddie assemblies into closed position with said package assembly enclosedbetween the same and for separating said die assemblies to free thepackage assembly, said die assemblies having means to apply pressure tothe uppermost and lowermost faces of the package assembly enclosedtherein whereby to compress the product so that it fills the spacewithin the package and means for sealing the package flanges which arein face engagement with each other, and said means for moving said dieassemblies into closed position comprising a carriage forming framemounted on said supporting frame for horizontal reciprocation, camplates on said carriage and cam followers on one of said die assembliesfor co-operation with said cam plates so as to move said die assembliesinto and out of closed position upon reciprocation of said carriage.

14. A machine for closing and sealing a package assembly which ischaracterized by a semi-rigid sheet material which is preformed toprovide one or more traylike container bodies each having a marginalflange portion extending about an open side which constitutes the bottomthereof and a semi-rigid sheet of similar material which is preformed toprovide a corresponding number of bottom closure panels each having aproduct supporting portion adapted to close the open side of a containerbody and a marginal flange portion adapted to be sealed in faceengagement with the flange portions of the associated container body,said machine comprising a supporting frame, a lower die assembly mountedon said frame and having an upwardly opening recess in which a containerbody is adapted to be positioned in inverted relation with a quantity ofa product in said body and with a closure panel assembled in invertedrelation thereon, an upper die assembly supported on said frame andaligned vertically with said lower die assembly, means for moving saiddie assemblies into closed position with said package assembly enclosedbetween the same and for separating said die assemblies to free thepackage assembly, said die assemblies having means to apply pressure tothe uppermost and lowermost faces of the package assembly enclosedtherein whereby to compress the product so that it fills the spacewithin the package and means for sealing the package flanges which arein face engagement with each other, and a fork-like means mounted onsaid. supporting frame for horizontal reciprocation which is adapted toreceive a package assembly and deposit the same on the lower one of saiddie assemblies so that it is enclosed between said die assemblies whenthe latter are in a closed position.

15. A machine as recited in claim 14, and said forklike means beingoperated to remove a completed package assembly form said lower dieassembly when the die assemblies are moved to open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,767 12/ 1959 Grinstead etal. 531l2 3,020,686 2/1962 Reuckert et al. 531l2 X 3,196,590 7/1965Ollier et al. 53-112 TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.53-101

